Shloka 45
कृतयुगवर्णनम् तथा राजधर्मोपदेशः
Kṛtayuga Description and Instruction on Royal Dharma
लोभमोहपरीताश्च मिथ्याधर्मध्वजावृता: । भिक्षार्थ पृथिवीपाल चज्चूर्यन्ते द्विजैर्दिश:,राजन! वे ब्राह्मण लोभ और मोहमें फँसकर झूठे धर्मका ढोंग रचनेवाले होंगे, इतना ही नहीं, वे भिक्षाके लिये सारी दिशाओंके लोगोंको पीड़ित करते रहेंगे
lobhamohaparītāś ca mithyādharmadhvajāvṛtāḥ | bhikṣārthaṃ pṛthivīpāla ca cūryante dvijair diśaḥ ||
Waiśampāyana berkata: “Wahai raja, para brahmana yang dikuasai loba dan delusi, berselubung panji dharma palsu, tidak hanya akan meminta sedekah; atas nama mencari sedekah mereka akan mengganggu dan menindas orang-orang ke segala penjuru.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse condemns religious hypocrisy: when greed and delusion dominate, people may display the outward symbols of dharma while violating its essence, even harming society under a pious pretext. True dharma is measured by conduct and compassion, not by external appearance.
Vaiśampāyana addresses a king and describes a troubling social condition: brahmins, instead of embodying restraint and integrity, will be driven by greed and delusion, adopting the guise of righteousness and troubling people in all regions while seeking alms.